L-Carnitine

Fat burner or supplement myth? The misunderstood fat transporter - PEScience

L-theanine

Put simply, L-theanine is an amino acid, and if you're a tea drinker, chances are you're already ingesting it. You see, it's available in black and green teas, as well as some mushrooms and other plants/fungus - Rebecca Fearn

Lab (Blood) Tests

Lab testing on demand isn’t perfect. Some of the tests are expensive, most aren’t covered by insurance, and some overpromise on the value of tests or technology - WSJ

Lab Grown (Cultured) Meat

Real meat made without tearing down a forest or taking a life - GOOD Meat

Lab Leak Covid-19

Each new revelation is a reminder of how little is actually known - Daniel Engber

Lab Techs

Nothing of any importance can be taught. It can only be learned, and with blood and sweat - Robert Anton Wilson

Labetalol Carvedilol

Unlike "pure" beta blockers, labetalol maintains cardiac output, reduces total peripheral resistance, and does not decrease peripheral blood flow - Carolyn J. Pearce MD

Labialplasty

As labiaplasty – surgery to change your vulva’s appearance – has become increasingly popular among women, it’s also become the surgery of choice for an ever-growing number of girls - Jessica Valenti

Labor

Giving birth should be your greatest achievement not your greatest fear - Jane Weideman

Labor induction abortion

Induction may also be used to achieve abortion, however this is less-cost effective, takes more time, and is more associated with complications. Generally, this is achieved through similar techniques for cervical ripening to labor induction -- mechanical dilators or balloon catheters, misoprostol, and oxytocin - CREOGS over Coffee

Laboratories

The push toward self-ordering is a boon for laboratories. But unlike health-care professionals, labs don’t have any responsibility for making sure that the correct tests are ordered, or that tests are interpreted correctly - WSJ

Laboratory Medicine

Extensive resources for pathologists - HWN

Labral Tear Hip

Hip labral tears are a fairly common injury, both on the playing field and as a result of chronic conditions - Sports Medicine Oregon

Labral Tear Shoulder (Bankart Lesion)

A tear in the labrum used to be ignored, considered just part of the spectrum of shoulder-joint arthritis, but then orthopedic surgeons figured out they could sew it together and an industry was born - Chris Centeno MD

Labyrinthitis

Vertigo generally signals an inner-ear problem. Acute labyrinthitis is the most prevalent of these - a temporary viral condition that causes sickness and disrupts the balance - Lucy Atkins

Lacrosse

The sport of lacrosse is a combination of basketball, soccer and hockey. Anyone can play lacrosse -- the big or the small. The game requires and rewards coordination and agility, not brawn. Quickness and speed are two highly prized qualities in lacrosse - Henry Lacrosse Association

Lactation

We know more about cow’s milk than human milk. But new research about the makeup of breast milk and the factors influencing its production could change the lives of millions - Amy McKeever

Lactic Acidosis

Lactic acidosis is a commonly encountered phenomenon within the emergency department (ED). In the setting of sepsis, elevated lactate levels can be an indicator of hypoxia or decreased perfusion. Its clearance can be a sign of increased perfusion. However, lactic acidosis is much more encompassing and can be the result of many other pathophysiologic processes - Alexandra Amaducci DO

Lactobacillus

Researchers have traveled to the ends of the earth in search of exotic microorganisms...But we may have overlooked an extremely rich source of drugs that was right under our noses: bacteria in and on the human body - Anna Almendrala

Lactose

Although glucose could be found in several types of foods, lactose is the only source of galactose. Galactose has various biological functions and serves in neural and immunological processes. Galactose is a component of several macromolecules (cerebrosides, gangliosides and mucoproteins), which are important constituents of nerve cells membrane - World Gastroenterology Organization

Lactose Free Milk

When it comes to lactose-free milk products, the shelves at local supermarkets are full of more options than ever before - Strive

Lactose Intolerance

Though lactose intolerance may sound like a disorder, it is in fact natural. In most people the gene for lactase, the enzyme that digests lactose, is switched on at birth and switched off at the age of weaning - Nicholas Wade

Lactulose

Nevertheless, although lactulose received formal FDA approval in 1977 and has since become a readily available generic and brand-name non-prescription medication listed on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines as one of the most effective and safe medicines employed in a health system, data regarding its optimal place in therapy is often ambiguous - PubChem

Lamaze

Lamaze is clearly worth it. You don’t even have to sit on a cheesy floor mat and breathe deeply with your husband to reap the benefits. In fact, you don’t even have to bring your husband if you don’t want to - Jaclyn Stewart

Lamb

Because lamb has received much less attention in the research literature than its fellow ruminant meat—namely, beef—we have been unable to find large-scale research studies on humans that analyze lamb intake and its relationship to disease - Capra Foods

Lambda Variant

While there’s much we don’t know about Lambda, one thing is clear: the way to protect yourself, your community, and prevent more variants from occurring is to get vaccinated - Katie MacBride

Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome

LEMS is not hereditary. The symptoms usually begin in young adults. It is not often seen in children. Approximately 1 in one million people have LEMS. 40% of those have cancer - American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine

Laminitis

Laminitis can be a frustrating and difficult condition for horse, horse owner, farrier, and veterinarians. Because there is no sure cure, there are many, many unrelated treatments, all of which may claim success - David Ramey DVM

Lamotrigine (Lamictal)

Lamotrigine can be used to treat the following partial seizures, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, bipolar I disorder maintenance and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Off-label uses include treating acute bipolar depression, fibromyalgia, schizophrenia, and unipolar depression - Nicholas T. Betchel

Langya Virus

This new virus appears to be a close cousin of two other viruses that are significant in humans: Nipah virus and Hendra virus. This family of viruses was the inspiration for the fictional MEV-1 virus in the film Contagion - Allen Cheng

Lap Bands

The gastric band was once the most popular weight loss surgery. Now, it’s slowly being relegated to the dustbin of medical history — but some doctors say not quickly enough - Julia Belluz

Lap Bands Worthless or Worthwhile?

Obesity has become a major health problem worldwide and especially in the western world. Could lap bands make a difference?

Laparoscopy

The emergence of laparoscopy and laparoscopic technologies has represented one of the most essential paradigm shifts in the practice of surgery - GeneralSurgeryNews.com

Lapiplasty

Gone are the days of needing a large cast, or having to be off of your feet for weeks, or even months. Using Lapiplasty 3D Bunion Correction, patients are able to put light weight on their foot, while wearing an orthopedic shoe, as soon as two days after the surgery - Buffalo Medical Group

LARCs

Up against bad PR and a lack of awareness, reproductive health groups are leading the charge to make the IUD a first line of defense against unplanned pregnancy. It won’t be easy - Alexandra Sifferlin

Large Bowel Obstruction

The most common causes of large-bowel obstruction (LBO) are colon carcinoma and volvulus. Nevertheless, the increased frequency of the condition and widespread use of diagnostic imaging have revealed uncommon causes of LBO - Alexander S. Somwaru

Laryngitis

The key is, if you have hoarseness or an unusual voice for more than three to four weeks, then you need to get your voice box checked - Rebecca N Gaughan MD

Laryngomalacia

It is one of the probable causes of noisy breathing in the newborn period - Springfield Pediatrics

Laryngoscopy

The GlideScope video laryngoscope, by virtue of providing a glottic view superior to direct laryngoscopy, has had a profound impact on clinical airway management and airway safety. That said, mastering the use of the GlideScope and other videolaryngoscopes requires knowledge of a number of special tips and tricks to ensure success - D. John Doyle

Laryngotracheobronchitis (LTB)

What should you do when your baby or toddler suddenly wakes up in the night gasping for breath and barking like a seal? Don't panic. Your little one probably has croup — a treatable, common childhood illness - What to Expect

Larynx Transplantation

Human laryngeal allotransplantation has long been contemplated as a surgical option following laryngectomy, but there is a paucity of information regarding the indications, surgical procedure, and patient outcomes - Giri Krishnan et al

Laser Spinal Surgery

If one person/group does laser surgery and markets it, it is a gimmick. When a number of surgeons adopt the technique & long term studies demonstrate safety & significant benefit, then laser spine surgery may be a legitimate option - Mark R McLaughlin MD

LASIK

Don't base your decision simply on cost and don't settle for the first eye center, doctor, or procedure you investigate. Remember that the decisions you make about your eyes and refractive surgery will affect you for the rest of your life - MedicineNet

Lasix (Furosemide) Bumex

Furosemide is the most well known and widely used of the loop diuretics which include bumetanide, torsemide, and ethacrynic acid - Karen Serrano MD & Christina Shenvi MD PhD

Lassa Fever

If you had to catch a VHF, Lassa might be your preference: It kills only about 2 of every 100 people who contract it, compared to 50 or more of those who contract Ebola - Maryn McKenna

Laughing Gas

The bigger problem with nitrous oxide abuse is one of image: That nitrous oxide is considered “soft” can in many ways gloss over the real problems associated with inhalant abuse - Linda Rodriguez

Laxative Abuse

Laxative abuse is taboo. It’s often addressed either quietly on message boards or between close confidants. Laxative, as a word, is often said as a joke. But laxative abuse and addiction is real, and we need to start really talking about it - Gianluca Russo

Laxatives

If you’re feeling a little backed up, don’t be so quick to reach for that bottle of laxatives. They may do you more harm than good, and, in some cases, can lead to dependency - Nicholas Knock

LDL

Bad cholesterol isn't actually always bad. But pinpointing the exact moment it turns against you can be surprisingly tricky - Markham Heid

Lead Exposure

There is no safe level of lead exposure... Despite decades of progress in reducing children's exposure to lead, America continues to have a toxic legacy of lead - Environmental Defense Fund

Leadless Pacemakers

The future of leadless device technology is promising and might eventually lead to expanded pacing capabilities - Sherrie R. Webb, PA-C

Leaky Gut

For decades, “leaky gut syndrome” was passed off as quackery. But new research shows it is indeed real, and may be the cause of asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, and more - Daniela Drake

Lean Healthcare Six Sigma Continuous Improvement

Could lean processes transform the U.S. health care system, with its spiraling costs and inconsistent quality? - Knowledge@Wharton

Learn CPR

Despite the advent of CPR, sudden cardiac arrest outcomes remain dismal. Unfortunately, because of confusion and the lack of knowledge about CPR, very few people are capable or willing to perform CPR during emergencies - HWN

Lecanemab (Leqembi)

It is important to note that lecanemab was not studied in and was not approved for individuals with moderate or severe stages of Alzheimer’s disease - James E. Galvin

Lecithin

I have always been suspicious of promotions that promise to cure all human ailments. So it doesn’t surprise me to find that a recent review of a number of scientific papers on PubMed reveals that the researchers still refer to hoped for lecithin benefits with terms like “may,” “might,” “theoretically could” and not with “does." - Dov Michaeli, MD, PhD

Lectins

They are found in every living organism, including viruses, bacteria, and most foods, to one degree or another, but most of them are harmless. Scientists have been studying lectins since 1884 - Joe Cohen

Leech Therapy

The ancient physician’s art of using leeches has made a modern medical comeback: the worms help doctors do everything from reattach severed fingers to treat potentially fatal circulation disorders - PBS.org

Left Heart Failure

LHF has had extensive research on epidemiology, clinical manifestation, diagnosis and clinical management but most of the early research did not distinguish LHF from other forms of heart failure such as right ventricular and bi-ventricular failure - Aref Albakri

Leg and Arm Pain

Aching calves, burning legs, numbness in the feet - pain and discomfort in the lower extremities is a common complaint that sends many of us to our doctors seeking relief - NextAvenue

Leg Cramps

A commonly thought reason for muscle cramps is a lack of certain nutrients. While this is true, there are also various other reasons that can cause these often unbearable muscle cramps - Juliette Steen

Leg Lengthening

Originally designed to correct mismatched length in legs, limb-lengthening surgery has become more popular for men looking to permanently increase their height - Elamin Abdelmahmoud

Legg-Calvé-Perthes

So there is hope - it's a long journey and the progress is ever so SLOW and TEDIOUS. But hang tight - Stacey Snover

Legionnaires or Legionellosis

You usually get it by breathing in mist from water that contains the bacteria. The mist may come from hot tubs, showers, or air-conditioning units for large buildings - MedlinePlus

Legs

The legs, besides being a very important functional unit, are also an important sexual attraction in themselves, and in all cultures they have a preponderant place in the concept of beauty - Barry Bogin

Legumes

The benefits of legumes extend beyond their positive impact on human health. As crops, these nitrogen-fixing plants have been used for centuries to improve the quality of soil. They also adapt well to adverse environments, are highly resistant to disease and pests, and need less water than grains - Tufts

Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis outbreaks have become the new hallmark of late 20th or 21st century wars and human misery - Peter Hotez MD PhD

Lemierres Syndrome

Lemierre’s syndrome should be suspected in young healthy patients with prolonged symptoms of pharyngitis followed by symptoms of septicemia or pneumonia, or an atypical lateral neck pain - Wesley Eilbert

Lennox-Gastaut syndrome

You learn to expect the unexpected. That’s a phrase caregivers have used to describe how they adapt to life with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome - LGS Together

Lens Dislocation

Eye trauma is reportedly present in 1.5% of emergency department visits, but lens dislocation, or ectopia lentis, makes up a low proportion of those visits overall. Although connective tissue disorders such as Marfans syndrome can lead to spontaneous dislocation, far more commonly this injury follows trauma - Russell Prichard

Leprosy

The all-important first step toward overcoming that prejudice is to clear up misconceptions about leprosy - The Nippon Foundation

Leptin

Decades after the discovery of anti-obesity hormone, scant evidence that leptin keeps lean people lean, scientists say - Jake Miller

Leptospirosis Weil's Disease

Worldwide, Leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonotic disease. Cases occur routinely in tropical countries, but increases have been seen in Europe and North America as well. Floods and hurricanes are instrumental in spreading this illness...Thomas Dock

Lesbian Health

Women who love women are Lesbians. Men, because they can only think of women in sexual terms, define Lesbian as sex between women - Rita Mae Brown

Leukemia

When people think of leukaemia, they usually think of blood cancers that affect children. These mostly come under the category of ALL and are different to the group of blood cancers which predominantly affect adults - Samantha Le Sommer

Leukemoid Reaction

The term leukemoid reaction is used to describe a condition where peripheral white blood cells on a stained blood smear may have some resemblance to leukemia cells. Quantatively, in a leukemoid reaction, the neutrophil count may be as high as 50.0 X 109/ -

Leukocytosis

Leukocytosis is a common laboratory finding encountered in hospital practice, in the emergency department or a medical or surgical setting. Generally, the vast majority of cases of leukocytosis are reactive and benign - Mark A. Marinella MD

Leukopenia

Agranulocytosis and neutropenia usually occur later in life, as the result of another condition or treatment (acquired), but can sometimes be present from birth (congenital) - NHS Choices

Leukostasis

Leukostasis, a medical emergency situation, refers to hyperleukocytosis combined with organ failure. Because of its poor prognosis and the high incidence of early mortality of patients with leukostasis, prompt and efficient therapy is needed - B. Uz

Leukotriene Modifiers (Montelukast/Singulair)

Leukotriene inhibitors offer effective anti-inflammatory asthma therapy without the safety concerns associated with long-term inhaled corticosteroid administration - RT Magazine

Levetiracetam (Keppra)

This is one of the most commonly prescribed anti-seizure drugs because it is effective against many seizure types and has a relatively low risk of causing cognitive (thinking) side effects - Juhi Modi

Levitra

Levitra is also known for its “fast-acting” effects - Tim Jewell

Levophed (Norepinephrine)

The upside to Levophed is evident and its broad range of positive effects makes it the go-to Inopressor for most clinical presentations needing hemodynamic support - Eric Bauer

Levophed Extravasation

Depending on the size of the extravasation, bring 5 to 10 mg of phentolamine to the bedside. This will need to be reconstituted, and further diluted to 0.5 mg/mL in normal saline - Pharmacy Joe

Levosimendan

Despite interesting and unique pharmacological properties, levosimendan has not proven a clear superiority to placebo in the patient populations that have been enrolled in the various recent multicenter randomized controlled trials - Bernard Cholley

Lewy Body Dementia

Diagnosing LBD can be challenging - Natural Institute on Aging

LGBTQ+ & Covid-19

Pandemic worsens health gap fueled by barriers to care and underlying conditions - Maanvi Singh

LGBTQIA+ Health

It is absolutely imperative that every human being’s freedom and human rights are respected, all over the world - Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir

LGV

The likelihood of LGV infection following an exposure is unknown, but it is considered less infectious than some other STI/STDs. Lymphogranuloma venereum is more common in people with penises - Debra Rose Wilson PhD

Libre

FreeStyle Libre presents an elegant solution, one that encourages those of us who are ill to live as if we weren’t. At the very least, it promises to make my fingerprints my own again - Jacob Brogan

Librium (Chlordiazepoxide)

The first in a long line of psychotropic drugs called benzodiazepines, Librium--followed by its more effective cousin Valium and then dozens of analogs--has been described as a landmark in modern psychopharmacology - David J. Hanson

Lice

Despite all our technological advances, the technology of lice removal practiced by our primate ancestors—careful hand removal—is still the safest and most effective we’ve come across - Lice Happens

Lidocaine

Lidocaine is a Class Ib antiarrhythmic agent that has largely fallen out of favor. It fell off of the simplified pulseless arrest ACLS algorithm in 2010; although, it is still considered reasonable for the initial treatment of sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (Class IIb recommendation) - Ben Cooper MD

Life Expectancy

If life-expectancy trends continue, that future may be near, transforming society in surprising and far-reaching ways - Gregg Easterbrook

Life Sustaining Treatment

‌This scenario does not occur often and when it does, it plays out behind closed doors. But as our medical technology races forward — creating ethical quandaries like this one — we need to examine cases like these, to ask tough questions about our responsibility to our patients and what it means to do no harm - Daniela J. Lamas MD

Lifestyle Medicine

The goal is to prevent, suspend, and reverse diseases that are directly related to lifestyle choices - Scott Stoll MD

Lifestyle Vacations

Today, the words “wellness” and “vacation” are spoken in the same breath with unprecedented frequency. Over the past decade, this type of vacation has become incredibly diverse and democratized - Irene S Levine

Light Pollution

Light pollution is excessive, misdirected, or obtrusive artificial (usually outdoor) light. Too much light pollution has consequences: it washes out starlight in the night sky, interferes with astronomical research, disrupts ecosystems, has adverse health effects and wastes energy - Globe at Night

Limb Lengthening

Originally designed to correct mismatched length in legs, limb-lengthening surgery has become more popular for men looking to permanently increase their height - Elamin Abdelmahmoud

Limb Reduction Defects

Limb reduction defects are regarded as indicators for teratogens and are easily recognizable and not often missed. A number of teratogens etiologically related to defects of limb development have been identified to date. Not all of these teratogens cause a highly specific pattern of limb reduction defects. The most widely known teratogen causing limb reduction defects is certainly thalidomide - Ursula G. Froster and Patricia A. Baird

Limbic System

The brain’s limbic system is a major factor in how we work through adversity in life. This system is composed of multiple segments of your brain, including (but not limited to) the amygdalae, hippocampi, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland - Kyle Ferlic MA

Limbic System

The limbic system is not a discrete system itself but rather a collection of structures—anatomically related but varying greatly in function - Science of Psychotherapy

Limping Child

In those that deny history of trauma, the most common diagnosis is transient synovitis, with 77% having a benign cause without requiring surgical intervention or hospital admission - Cameron Gettel

Lindora Diet

If you are willing to pay the cost of the Lindora Diet and you have experienced success with low carbohydrate diets in the past, then the Lindora Diet may help you lose weight - 3FC

Linezolid (Zyvox)

Oxazolidinones fill an important void in infectious disease chemotherapy. Within the past few years gram-positive organisms have emerged that are resistant to nearly every available antimicrobial agent - Brian T. Tsuji PharmD

Lipedema

Despite initial medical reports from more than 75 years ago, there are no definitive diagnostic tests for Lipedema. It is often misdiagnosed as obesity, lymphedema, Dercum’s disease, or chronic venous insufficiency. Underlying Lipedema may also be present in patients with these conditions - Lipedema Foundation

Lipid Metabolism

Fundamentally, lipid metabolism is maintained through a delicate balance between lipid intestinal digestion and absorption, systemic synthesis, and catabolism - Rui Song

Lipid Screening

While doctors routinely test for other lipoproteins like HDL and LDL cholesterol, few test for lipoprotein(a), also known as lp(a), high levels of which triple the risk of having a heart attack or stroke at an early age - Anahad O’Connor

Lipoprotein(a)

People with a family history of early heart disease need to be tested for this inherited cholesterol particle - Annabelle Santos Volgman

Lipoproteins

Lipoproteins, the colloidal particles that transport insoluble lipids within blood, lymph and cerebral spinal fluid, are among the most studied structures in biology - J. Bruce German

Liposuction

Since there is no magic pill that will make us thin, the next best thing seems to be sucking fat out of our bodies - Judith J Wurtman PhD

Lipotropic Lipo-B Injections

In recent years, lipotropic injections have been promoted for the purposes of weight loss and sometimes for improved energy. Different weight loss clinics and medi-spas create unique compounds that they sell as lipo injections. Even though different clinics have different formulas, there are a few ingredients that are fairly standard - Malia Frey

Liquid Biopsy

The world of cancer screening is on the cusp of a transformative shift with the rise of MCED tests - Robert Volk PhD

Liquid Ecstasy

Gives the user a feeling of euphoria, that everything is fine. GHB, like alcohol, is a central nervous system depressant that takes only minutes to make a user lose control, forget what is happening, or lose consciousness.

Lisfranc Injuries

Lisfranc complex injuries are rare, but serious, injuries with long-term consequences. Missed or delayed diagnoses have increased rates of morbidity. A high index of suspicion should always be maintained for patients with a mechanism consistent with a Lisfranc injury presenting with pain and swelling of the midfoot - Alan Yan MD

Lisinopril Enalapril (Vasotec)

The discovery of the ACE inhibitors and the creation of captopril was one of the really great advances in cardiovascular medicine, alongside beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and statins - Jenny Bryan

Listeria

Listeria is a particularly ugly pathogen since the number of people who die from it relative to the number infected is quite high - Alice G Walton

Lithium

On earth, lithium remains a major mineral component of granite rock, and also lingers in significant amounts in sea water, mineral springs, and soils. Lithium has also found its way into our cell phones, electric cars, and holiday fireworks. Every organ and tissue in the human body contains the mineral lithium, with particular importance in brain health - James Greenblatt MD & Kayla Grossmann RN

Lithium Batteries

Even if you make every effort to minimize your carbon footprint, chances are your smartphone is harming the environment. The battery...is likely made of lithium, a potentially toxic substance that shouldn’t be thrown out in the garbage - Paul Bloom

Lithium Therapy

Despite the fact that people have benefited from its use for millenniums, how lithium works upon brains is largely unknown - Jaime Lowe

Lithium Toxicity

Hemodialysis is the definitive modality of lithium clearance in severe toxicity. In early overdose, however, whole bowel irrigation may prevent lithium absorption and subsequent toxicity if mental status is preserved - Omid Manoochehri MD

Lithotripsy Ureteroscopy ESWL

For stones in the ureter, we have a good understanding of the clinical evidence, which indicates that ureteroscopy tends to be associated with slightly improved stone-free outcome compared with shock wave lithotripsy - Brian R Matlaga MD

Little People

Dwarfism is not a disease, and it has multiple causes, genetic and developmental, any one of which can lead to health problems later in life - Josh Bloom

Live In Care

It is not how much you do, but how much love you put in the doing - Mother Teresa

Live in Care

It is not how much you do, but how much love you put in the doing - Mother Teresa

Live Long

It’s not just a matter of prescribing a custom drug to deal with a disease — it’s about improving the odds that you’ll improve your quality of life today and in the long run - Dr. Hossein Fakhrai-Rad

Live Long Organizations

Governments and businesses need to catch up to individuals’ efforts adapting to longevity - Carol Hymowitz

Live Long Research

Although some of the current research could even be considered on the fringe of medicine, browse through what's on the cusp with an open mind and see if anything catches your fancy as a way to extend your stay here

Live Long Want to live to 100? How about 120?

People who live in a Blue Zone didn’t win the gene pool lottery and they didn’t find the fountain of youth. However, researchers discovered that all these people have a few things in common...

Liver Cancer

Although usually associated with alcohol and HepC, overweight issues and diabetes may be a contributing factor, so it makes sense to limit your alcohol intake, get vaccinated, watch your diet and maybe drink some morning joe - Kate Bratskeir

Liver Cancer & Robin Gibb

Legendary feather-haired falsetto Robin Gibb has been diagnosed with liver cancer which is a particularly hard disease to beat and the prognosis is generally poor

Liver Donation

As if there weren't enough controversies surrounding transplantation such as who gets the next transplant, liver transplantation has its very own...the high incidence of liver transplants given to those with alcoholic cirrhosis

Liver Emergencies

Whether it be the acute liver failure patient gushing from a varix whose INR is greater than his shoe size, or the confused hepatic encephalopathy patient levitating off the bed using nothing but asterixis, there are definitely times where the middle child of the abdomen steals the show - Jennifer He and Anton Helman

Liver Transplantation

The major problem with liver transplantation now is not rejection or infections but rather that there are not enough livers for all the people who need them - Abhi Humar

Liver Transplantation & Steve Jobs

Pancreatic cancer typically spreads quickly to other organs and is seldom detected in its early stages, which is the major reason it's one of the hardest cancers to treat. Maybe someday there will be a screening test!

Living Donors

But most importantly, we can all be donors. It does not matter how old you are, your race, where you live; all of us can give the gift of life - Jay Inslee

LMA

The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) has changed airway management. Besides its use as an airway conduit, it is also used to help obtain a secure airway, i.e., it is used to facilitate the placement of an endotracheal tube - James Smit & Dennis E. Feierman

LMWH

Low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) have remained the most favorable form of heparin in clinics since 1990s’ owing to its predictable pharmacokinetic properties. However, LMWH is mainly eliminated through kidney, thus limits its use in renal-impaired patients - K Chandarajoti

LMWH

Despite Heparin's longevity as one of the oldest pharmaceuticals, its role for thromboprophylaxis is diminishing and is gradually being replaced by its derivatives as well as oral anticoagulants

Lobotomy

Most people don’t know about this chapter in our history because it’s ugly, and truthfully, psychiatrists have an interest in hoping that people don’t know too much about it - Jack El-Hai, The Lobotomist

Local Anesthesia (Anesthetics)

After more than a century of use in Western medicine, LAs remain important tools for the twenty-first-century physician. Peripheral nerve blocks are almost certainly the result of LA inhibition of voltage-gated Na channels in neuronal membranes - John Butterworth IV

Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity (LAST)

A life-threatening adverse reaction resulting from local anesthetic reaching significant systemic circulating levels. LAST is rare and almost always occurs within minutes of injection of the local anesthetic - Anand Swaminathan MD

Locked-in Syndrome

Advancements in medical care, rehabilitation, and communication technology have enabled many chronic locked-in syndrome patients to lead meaningful lives in the society with the help of family and friends - Kunal Khanna et al

Locum Tenens

Locum Tenens is simply a fancy Latin way of saying temporary work. Just like curriculum vitae is a fancy Latin phrase meaning résumé - Physician on Fire

Loeffler’s Syndrome

Löffler (Loeffler) syndrome is a rare, transient, self-limiting, and benign pulmonary eosinophilia lasting less than one month (usually 6-12 days). The syndrome is characterised by pulmonary infiltrates on X-ray, elevated blood eosinophils and an acute onset of potential symptoms of mainly cough, dyspnoea and wheeze - Gary Zhang and Mike Cadogan

Loeys-Dietz Syndrome

Although Loeys-Dietz syndrome shows overlap with other disorders such as Marfan Syndrome (MFS), Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Shprintzen-Goldberg syndrome (SGS) and others, a variety of differential features set LDS apart from other disorders - Loeys-Dietz Syndrome Foundation

Loneliness

Loneliness not only feels bad, it can be damaging. A March 2015 Time magazine article speculates that loneliness may be on par with obesity and substance abuse in terms of how damaging it can be...Greggory Moore

Loneliness Looking it in the Face

The professor had never received such a note on an exam: "Please don't waste your time grading this, as I am not in your class! I just did not want to be lonely."

Long Covid

While the number of people affected is still unknown, if long-term symptoms afflict even a small proportion of the millions of people infected with the coronavirus, it is going to represent a significant public health issue - Dr. Anthony S. Fauci

Long QT syndrome

An EKG is the main diagnostic tool for LQTS. However, not everyone with LQTS will always exhibit a prolonged QT interval on an EKG, such as someone who has it during intense exercise but not at rest - Davendra Mehta MD PhD

Long Term Care

Do not try to live forever, you will not succeed - George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

Long Term Care Insurance

From the buyer’s perspective, LTC insurance has three defects, at least when you compare it to the conspicuous alternative, a longevity annuity - Forbes

Long-Haulers Covid

While the number of people affected is still unknown, if long-term symptoms afflict even a small proportion of the millions of people infected with the coronavirus, it is going to represent a significant public health issue - Dr. Anthony S. Fauci

Longevity

It’s not just a matter of prescribing a custom drug to deal with a disease — it’s about improving the odds that you’ll improve your quality of life today and in the long run - Dr. Hossein Fakhrai-Rad

Longevity Medicine

Longevity medicine is a fast-evolving subspecialty of preventative precision medicine—meaning it’s focused on customizing health plans for patients in order to stave off common-killers like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease - Brenna Holland

Loop Diuretics

Furosemide is the most well known and widely used of the loop diuretics which include bumetanide, torsemide, and ethacrynic acid - Karen Serrano MD & Christina Shenvi MD PhD

Lorazepam (Ativan)

Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine used for the treatment of agitation, seizures, anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, sympatholytic, and for sedation - Megan A. Rech PharmD

Lose Weight

Weight loss doesn't begin in the gym with a dumb bell; it starts in your head with a decision ― Toni Sorenson, The Great Brain Cleanse

Loss of Smell & Covid-19

Many people lose their sense of smell after contracting COVID-19. For most, it comes back fine. For others, not so much - Ștefania Matache

Lou Gehrig's

A terminal diagnosis can really mess with your head. Honestly, it makes you want to run away to the moon. Many ALS patients want to fade away quietly. This was not for me - Steve Gleason

Lou Gehrig's Disease

A terminal diagnosis can really mess with your head. Honestly, it makes you want to run away to the moon. Many ALS patients want to fade away quietly. This was not for me - Steve Gleason

Love & Health

Love is the one ingredient that does not come from food. It’s the one elusive ingredient that many people forget about for great health and vitality - Vaya

Low Back Pain

If you have never suffered from lingering low back pain, you’re lucky or, more likely, young. Up to 80 percent of us will experience low back pain at some point. And for most, there won’t be an identifiable cause - Gretchen Reynolds

Low Back Pain Emergencies

Low back pain is among the most common presenting complaints in the ED, and while most of the patients end up having acute non-specific back pain, there are several very serious causes of low back pain that can have devastating consequences if not detected and treated promptly - Hannah Ceen MD

Low Calorie Diet

Studies show promise in preventing and treating illnesses ranging from asthma and diabetes to multiple sclerosis - Sumathi Reddy

Low Carb diet

Can low-carb diets really help people lose weight? Of course they can. But that doesn’t necessarily make them your best choice. In fact, if you exercise regularly, reducing your carb intake too far can be a bad idea - John Berardi PhD

Low Density Lipoprotein

Bad cholesterol isn't actually always bad. But pinpointing the exact moment it turns against you can be surprisingly tricky - Markham Heid

Low Dose Aspirin

An aspirin a day has long been been touted as one of the pillars of a healthy routine for older people: Swallow the pill and see your risks of heart disease and cancer melt away - Julia Belluz

Low Fat Diet

Hopefully, we can shift the way we think about fats, and get rid of the often-crazy substitutions we make – not only for ourselves, but for our kids - Alice G. Walton

Low FODMAP Diet

It is true, the low FODMAP diet can be restricting during the elimination phase, during which time diagnosis is paramount. However, once you’ve passed those ugly few weeks, there is NO REASON you can’t enjoy a myriad of delicious low FODMAP meals - The FODMAP Friendly Vegan

Low Histamine Diet

Keep in mind, however, that histamine intolerance is a relatively newly discovered condition, so the low-histamine diet has not been well studied in all conditions - .Amy Burkhart MD RD

Low Risk PE

Despite published guidelines and review articles, select aspects of thrombolytic therapy for the management of pulmonary embolism remain controversial; therefore, clinical practice varies from institution to institution and from practitioner to practitioner - Mitchell J Daley

Lower GI Bleed

After initial resuscitation, the diagnosis and treatment of LGIB remains a challenge for clinicians; identifying the source of bleeding is a clinical priority, and can be challenging in comparison with UGIB - British Society of Gastroenterology

Lower Your Alzheimer's (Dementia) Risk

At an individual level, many people have the potential to reduce their risk of cognitive decline, and perhaps dementia, through simple, healthful behavior changes. At a public level, interventions based on this evidence could be extremely powerful in managing the global human and economic costs of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias - Maria Carillo

Lower Your Cancer Risk

We see a lot of conflicting advice about what to do–or not do–to decrease the likelihood of developing cancer. And plenty of people seem to do everything right but are still diagnosed with the disease - Berkeley Wellness

Lower Your Covid-19 Risk

The most effective public health messages don’t merely tell people what not to do. They also tell people what they can do with only a small amount of risk - David Leonhardt

Lower Your Diabetes Risk

If we do not change; 1/3 of all children born after 2000 will develop diabetes during their lifetime, or they will face other chronic obesity-related health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer and asthma - Stacy Matson

Lower Your Disease Risk

The critical importance of public health and preventive medicine, with an emphasis on healthy lifestyle choices and disease avoidance, has been severely underfunded - Deepak Chopra

Lower Your Flu Risk

You can reduce your risk of the flu by getting vaccinated, wearing a mask and washing your hands — and none of these strategies, thankfully, are difficult to do - Melinda Wenner Moyer

Lower Your Heart Risk

We will need to shift to a new paradigm, one focused on prevention—turning down the faucet rather than mopping up the floor - Sandeep Jauhar

Lower Your Mosquito Bite Risk

It’s important to understand how to prevent mosquito bites from happening in the first place. Believe it or not, it calls for more than bug spray and yard repellents (though those do help) - Korin Miller & Markham Heid

Lower Your Stroke Risk

Controlling the major, modifiable risk factors of blood pressure, diabetes and weight will not only help you decrease your risk for stroke but may ultimately turn around the worldwide incidence of stroke - HWN

Lower Your Tick Bite Risk

Tick bites can be a real buzzkill for outdoor enthusiasts. Luckily, there are several effective ways to prevent them. The key is to use a multi-faceted approach that includes personal protective measures and environmental control methods - Toe River Health

LP

Although the traditional teaching is to use the L4/L5 intervertebral space, the L3/L4 intervertebral space is actually wider and easier to penetrate – Randy Sorge MD

Lp(a)

People with a family history of early heart disease need to be tested for this inherited cholesterol particle - Annabelle Santos Volgman

LPNs

It is the nurse that the child first hears, and her words that he will first attempt to imitate - Quintilian

LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide)

Psychedelic science is making a comeback. Scientific publications, therapeutic breakthroughs and cultural endorsements suggest that the historical reputation of psychedelics — such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), mescaline (from the peyote cactus) and psilocybin (mushrooms) — as dangerous or inherently risky have unfairly overshadowed a more optimistic interpretation - Erika Dyck

LSD Illicit

LSD is the most well-known psychedelic drug since its popularity in the heyday of 1960s counterculture - Barbara Sahakian, Camilla d'Angelo & George Savulich

Lubes

It just might be the magic bullet that makes sex possible. That pretty much solidifies its spot as one of the best inventions ever - Amy Marturana

Lubricant Laxatives Mineral Oil Castor Oil

I believe that Castor oil is safer for short term use for constipation relief than Mineral Oil but neither one should be used for more than 7 days - Wendy Hayden

Ludwig Angina

Ludwig’s angina is a clinical diagnosis and does not require advanced imaging. Do not delay the patient going to the OR or getting transferred to a hospital with a surgeon for a CT. Remember that the patient has to be comfortable lying flat to get a CT - Anand Swaminathan

Lumbar Disc Disease

DDD can be managed. There are many options, even surgery, that can help you not only survive, but thrive, through the pain - Daniella Lopez

Lumbar Pain

If you have never suffered from lingering low back pain, you’re lucky or, more likely, young. Up to 80 percent of us will experience low back pain at some point. And for most, there won’t be an identifiable cause - Well

Lumbar Strain

Lumbar strain is the cause of low back pain in 70% of cases, and is most common between age 20 and 50 - Whitney Luke MD

Lumpectomy

Several studies suggest that less surgery is better for women, that lumpectomy is better than mastectomy. Whether or not women who have lumpectomy plus radiation live longer than women who have a mastectomy, it is clear that a smaller surgery is not worse for women - Karuna Jaggar

Lung Cancer

We have made great progress. But the number of deaths from lung cancer is still shocking - Rebecca Siegel

Lung Cancer & Bryant Gumbel

The overall prognosis for lung cancer is poor especially when compared with other cancers. But, thanks to research, new treatments and procedures, improved drugs and techniques, more and more of us are 'survivors' of cancer

Lung Cancer Screening

Once early screening becomes routine, perhaps then we can turn a ravaging cancer into a manageable disease, and luck will no longer need to be a factor in our approach to this public menace - Bonnie J. Addario

Lung Transplantation

Lupus

For many years Lupus was thought to be a fatal disease; however that is a big misconception. In fact, the prognosis for Lupus is much better today than ever before - Stacy Matson

Lupus & Lady Gaga

For many years Lupus was thought to be a fatal disease; however that is a big misconception. In fact, the prognosis for Lupus is much better today than ever before

LVAD

The LVAD’s history of clinical performance and evolving technology puts it in a special category of devices whose usefulness continues to develop over time - Sara Wykes

Lyft & Uber Health

Once celebrated for their ingenuity in disrupting the public transportation industry, Uber and Lyft have simultaneously been working on something else: expanding their reach into the multi-trillion dollar healthcare market - Sai Balasubramanian, MD, JD

Lyme Disease

Who knew that such a small bug could cause such a debillitating disease - HWN

Lyme Disease & Yolanda Foster

Although, the first known cases of Lyme disease date back to 1908 little progress has been made. We still don’t have a way to quickly and properly diagnose patients, treatment options have remained the same, there is no vaccine and there's no cure

Lymphadenopathy

Lymphadenopathy is defined as enlargement of one or more lymph nodes beyond what is normal, taking into consideration the patient's age and the location of the node being examined - ScienceDirect

Lymphatic Drainage Massage

These wellness practices — which center on one invisible network of vessels and nodes — have soared in popularity in recent years - Hannah Seo

Lymphatic Filariasis

The disease may not be fatal, but the social and economic cost to those left disfigured leaves them in a life of poverty and isolation - Meera Senthilingam

Lymphatic System

Considering the vital functions that the lymphatic system engages in and how little knowledge we have regarding the system, lymphatic research is truly a gold mine that invites ambitious young scientists and clinicians - Inho Choi,

Lymphedema

The ambiguity and lack of answers are, unfortunately, a frustrating and common reality of living with a medical condition like lymphedema - Alexa Ercolano

Lymphocytes

T cells and B cells are the most critical components of the adaptive immune system. These cells are essential for fighting disease and play an important role in regulating hypersensitivity to harmless or “self” antigens - Cytologics

Lymphogranuloma Venereum

The likelihood of LGV infection following an exposure is unknown, but it is considered less infectious than some other STI/STDs. Lymphogranuloma venereum is more common in people with penises - Debra Rose Wilson PhD

Lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma is considered one of the most treatable cancers, with more than 90 percent of patients surviving more than five years. Survival rates for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma tend to be lower - Arnold Freedman MD

Lymphoma Andy Whitfields Biggest Battle

Despite his untimely death in 2012, actor Andy Whitfield is still very present.  How?  In the form of a upcoming documentary called "Be Here Now" which chronicles his battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Lynch Syndrome

Lynch syndrome is a genetic condition that makes people more predisposed to certain types of cancer (depending on which particular mutation you have). Lynch syndrome can increase the risk of bowel cancer by 80%, and can also increase the risk of ovarian, womb and other cancers - Sam Rose

Lysosomal Storage Disorders

Lysosomal storage diseases are rare metabolic conditions caused by genetic mutation of lysosomal enzymes, which lead to dysfunctional metabolism and the accumulation of glycosaminoglycans, glycoproteins, or glycolipids - Lecturi .